Masters in Counseling Requirements

The length of any master's program depends on the university that is
offering it and the curriculum requirements associated with it. In the case of
counseling, most professional positions in the field require licensure - and
the licensure requirements have much to do with academic standards. Programs
that are designed to prepare students for a license in clinical counseling,
school counseling, addiction counseling or a related specialty that requires a state license are going to have
curricula that provide a lot of focus on the types of counseling involved in
the specialty, the psychology that underlies counseling in those particular
fields and the development issues associated with clients. There are also
substantial practicum requirements with some of these degrees that demand
hundreds or even thousands of hours of field experience prior to the issuance
of a license to practice.

Masters in Marriage & Family Therapy Requirements

The MFT is one of the most respected master's programs in counseling and one
of the most challenging academically. The program generally takes two to three
years to complete. A rigorous MFT program may be a fifty to sixty credit course
of study with classes in career counseling, group counseling, family
counseling, couples counseling, and some room for electives to further define a
counseling career track. The real challenge for MFT students however is the
requirement of 3,000 hours in field internship, working at MFT counseling in a
supervised environment. Usually this takes two years of concentrated effort
after completion of the academic program.

Masters in School Counseling Requirements

Masters in School Counseling can be an eighteen month to two year program of
study and like other counseling programs, an intergral part of the academic
experience is field work, which may be continued after graduation in order to
meet licensing requirements. A Masters in School Counseling can come in the
form of a degree in psychology, in education or in counseling. In any case the
curriculum will include classes in alcohol and substance abuse, integrative counseling, and assessment in
counseling. Some programs require field work in both elementary and secondary
schools, with several hundred hours of supervised counseling in each
environment.

Masters in Substance Abuse Counseling Requirements

This degree will also require two years of study in a fifty to sixty credit
program, under most circumstances. Often this is a Master of Arts in Psychology
or a Masters in Clinical Counseling with specialization in substance abuse; a
good career choice because substance abuse counseling is predicted to be one of
the fastest growing jobs in the nation over the next decade. The classes that
focus on the counseling specialization include areas such as group counseling
for addictive behavior, the psychology of addiction, treatment of alcohol &
substance abuse, and substance abuse prevention. These programs generally
require 600 - 800 hours of supervised field work during the course of study.
The state requirements for licensure may demand several hundred
additional hours of field work, depending on the license. In most states there
are several levels of licensing for substance abuse counseling and
rehabilitation.

Masters in Rehabilitation Counseling Requirements

Rehabilitation counseling is a fast growing field, due in part to our aging
population. Rehabilitation counselors work with people who have developmental
disabilities or difficulties associated with trauma or aging, providing support
for rehabilitation and recovery efforts. This is often another Master of
Clinical Counseling or Clinical Psychology specialization; the academic program
will usually require two years of full time effort and will be accompanied by
substantial hours working with licensed counselors in the field. The coursework
will include classes in vocational evaluation, occupational assessment &
career counseling, psychosocial aspects of disability, and a substantial number
of courses related to substance abuse. The practicum requirements for this
degree and this license vary from school to school, state to state, but most
programs require at least 600 hours in the field during the period of
enrollment.

Each year since 2004, The Princeton Review has included California University in its Best in the Northeast listing, recognizing Cal U as one of the best regional universities in the northeastern United States.

Ranked #35 in Best Online Graduate Education Programs by U.S. News and World Report in 2015.

Offers private school amenities at a public school cost.

Grants students in its Global Online program the same diploma as graduates from Cal U’s traditional degree programs.